Permission to reside and work in Denmark for non-EU/EEA staff at AU

For Guest researchers / Guest PhD students

General information for all target groups

Accompanying family members

Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner, as well as any children under the age of 18 living at home are eligible for a Danish residence permit, if you hold a residence and work permit as a researcher, guest researcher, PhD student or guest PhD student.

You must be able to support your family and live together in Denmark at the same address. Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner is allowed to work full-time for the entire period his/her permit is valid.

How to apply?

Your spouse/registered partner/cohabiting partner and every child must submit their application via the MF1-form. It is also necessary to pay a fee for every single person.

The application form contains a detailed description of how you should complete the form, and which documents you must attach.

Access the MF1-form and further information on the New to Denmark website

Biometrics for residence cards

You must have your biometric features and signature recorded within 14 days of submitting your online application.

If you cannot have your biometrics recorded within the 14-day limit, you must notify the person at Aarhus University who assists you with your application.

You should bring your passport and a print of the receipt for the online application.

How to record biometrics

If you reside outside Denmark

You can have your biometrics recorded at the Danish diplomatic mission or visa centre in your country of residence. Find further information about where to record your biometrics.

If you already reside in Denmark

You can have your biometrics recorded at one of the SIRI branch offices around the country (Bornholm, Copenhagen, Odense, Aalborg, Aarhus, Esbjerg and Sønderborg). You need to book a timeslot beforehand.

Find further information and link to the booking

When your application has been processed

When your application has been processed, the immigration authority will inform you of their decision. If you apply outside Denmark, the decision will be sent to the diplomatic mission in your country of origin or residence. The diplomatic mission will send the decision to your e-mail, or you will be asked to pick it up in person at the diplomatic mission.

It’s important to:

Read the decision and attached information carefully
Be aware of actions to be taken upon arrival in Denmark
Make sure that the granted period is correct
Always keep the permit and attachments in your files

Upon arrival in Denmark, you are required to register with the public authorities.

Residence card

As a non-EU/EEA citizen, you will be issued a residence card with biometrics . This card includes your facial image and fingerprints stored on a microchip embedded in the card.

You need the residence card to travel outside Denmark as it is your documentation that you have a residence and work permit to Denmark. Therefore, you must carry your residence card on you at all times.

If you do not have a residence card and need to leave Denmark during your stay, you must apply for a re-entry permit every time you go abroad.

How do you receive the residence card?

The residence card is sent to the address you register yourself with at the National Registry/Citizen Service. Your name must appear on the mailbox of your residence, or else the mail will not be delivered, and you will not receive your residence card.

Usually, it takes approximately 6-8 weeks to get the card. If you have not received the card within 6-8 weeks, you should contact the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). Alternatively, contact the person at AU who has assisted you in getting the permit.

Sideline activities

Important information for non-EU/EEA employees/guests

If you hold a residence and work permit to Aarhus University and act as external examiners, give lectures or take other sideline activities anywhere in Denmark, this permit only allows you to work for the specific and specified employer (AU) in the specified position and period as mentioned in your work and residence permit.

If you are considering engaging in any other activities, an additional permit for that sideline activity can be required depending on the type of permit.

Permits that allow for sideline activities

You are not required to have a permit for sideline activities, if the sideline activities are in natural connection to your primary work or voluntary work in your free time and you are here on one of the following types of permits:

Researcher permit
Guest researcher permit
PhD permit
Guest PhD permit

Other sideline activities require a permit. If you have questions regarding the character of your sideline activity, please contact us or SIRI directly.

Important regarding guest PhD permits

Special conditions apply.

For details refer to the New to Denmark website - PhD studies

Permits that do not allow for sideline activities

The following permits require a special permit for sideline activities:

Pay Limit permit
Positive List permit
Trainee permit

Sideline activities can be related to your work or free time. A sideline permit is required for each sideline activity.

See the guidelines for sideline activities and when to apply

Consequences if you do sideline activities without a permit

If you fail to obtain a required sideline permit, you will be working illegally. Consequently, both you and your sideline employer(s) or host(s) can be subject to a fine. Worst case scenario, you can be deported from Denmark and not be allowed back for a long time.

Application process

A separate application for each sideline activity must be submitted to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), and your sideline employer or host must initiate the application.

The processing time can be up to one month from when SIRI receives a fully completed application. Therefore, it is important to apply in due time.

There is no application fee required and no requirements to record biometrics.

If the above circumstances apply to you, please contact your sideline employer(s) or host(s) as soon as possible and inform AU that you take up sideline activity.

If you have additional questions, please contact Inge Aachmann Pedersen or SIRI directly.

Re-entry permit

You need a re-entry permit if you have not yet received your residence card and need to go abroad for a limited period.

Normally you can only get a re-entry permit if you have specific travel needs and the period spent outside of Denmark is short.

Who can obtain a re-entry permit?

Re-entry permits are given to people who need to go abroad and who:

Hold a valid residence and work permit but have not yet received their residence card

Have applied for an extension of a residence and work permit and have not yet received their residence card

Children of foreign nationals with permanent residency in Denmark, who have not yet received a residence card, can be issued with a residence card by the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

Duration of re-entry permits

The re-entry permit will be valid for the period that corresponds with your specific travel needs, but never for more than 90 days.

Application

You must apply for the re-entry permit before you leave Denmark.

A re-entry permit can be issued, if you appear in person at one of the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration Citizen

Service centres around the country. Remember to bring a valid passport. The re-entry permit will be affixed to a page in your passport.

Extension of your residence and work permit

You are personally responsible for extending your residence permit if applicable. Your application must be submitted no sooner than three months before and no later than the date of expiry of your current permit. You must submit your application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) via the electronic application system.

The form to fill out is the AR7 for researchers/guest researchers, and PHD1 for PhD students and guest PhD students (MF2 for accompanying family members). Your HR supporter or the graduate school will assist you in the application process.

The application process and the documentation needed to apply are described in the forms – please read them carefully.

Remember to upload the following documents when extending your residence and work permit:

Documentation of paid fee
Valid passport or other form of travel identity card
Employment contract, including your job description and employment conditions, i.e., pay, working hours, work content.
For employees whose original residence permit is revoked, etc. in particular: documentation for employment conditions, e.g., employment contract, payslips or annual tax return.
For non-AU-employees: Proof that you can support yourself financially while in Denmark, e.g., bank statements, pay slips or a letter from your employer in your home country (original documents only).

Please refer to the New to Denmark website for further information about extensions

If you leave Denmark for a period

If you remain outside Denmark for a longer period, your residence and work permit can be annulled. It depends on the type of permit whether it will be annulled or not. Some permits contain a dispensation for lapse of permit. Check your permit letter for detailed information.

You must apply for dispensation from having your residence and work permit cancelled before you leave Denmark, unless the permit contains a dispensation for lapse of permit.

What you will need to re-enter Denmark/the Schengen area

If you need to leave Denmark and the Schengen area during your stay in Denmark, you must have a multiple entry visa or a residence card.

The multiple entry visa allows you to travel in the Schengen area during the period stated in your visa sticker in your passport.
The residence card is documentation that you have Danish residence and gives access to the same countries as the visa sticker.

If you are a legal resident in Denmark but do not hold a multiple entry visa or a residence card and need to leave Denmark for a limited period, you must apply for a re-entry permit to Denmark. Read more about re-entry permits above

Permanent residence as a non-EU citizen

You can be granted a permanent residence permit in Denmark once you have had a temporary residence permit for eight years. In some cases, the requirement is four years.

You need to meet certain requirements. Read in detail about the requirements on the New to Denmark website and contact the Danish Immigration Service (Udlændingestyrelsen) for further information.

It is a good idea to gather the necessary documents before you start completing the application form.

Read about the application procedure for permanent residence on the New to Denmark website

Public benefits and residence and work permits

If you have been granted a Danish work and residence permit, you are not allowed to receive public benefits (under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act). You must be able to support yourself financially during your stay.

If you or a family member receive public benefits during your stay, your permit can be revoked – and you will lose the right to stay in Denmark.

If an authority, e.g., a municipality, disburses benefits to foreign nationals, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) will be notified.

If you and any family members apply for and are granted a work and residence permit, you will be informed of the requirement to support yourselves financially in the letter granting you a permit.

Restricted regulations for PhD students

Please be aware that more restricted regulations apply for PhD students

Permission to reside and work in Denmark for non-EU/EEA citizens working at AU